Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM) organized the first national conference of Muslims engaged in cow rearing and protection at Ananj Mandi, Firozpur Zirka in Haryana’s Mewat Region on Sunday

More than 15000 people, mostly Muslims from all over India attended the first ever historic and unique ‘All India Muslim Gau Palak Sammelan’, organized by the Muslim Rashtriya Manch (MRM) at Firozpur Zirka in Haryana on September 13, 2015.

MRM, a nationalist and social reform movement working amongst the Indian Muslim community since 2002 under the patronage of senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader Indresh Kumar, had taken up this daunting task of congregating Muslims engaged in cow rearing and agriculture to clear the air over cow slaughter vis-a-vis Muslims in India.

Interacting with the prominent activists in New Delhi on September 10, Indresh Kumar said that like the earlier two major programs – the Iftar Party for diplomats of Islamic nations on July 4 and All India Ulema Conference of August 8, this Muslim Gau Palak Sammelan is going to be of national and international importance.

It may be mentioned that the MRM had for the first time organized the Iftar Party for Islamic diplomats in New Delhi which was attended by ambassadors and other junior diplomats of most Islamic nations on July 4. Similarly, August 8 national congregation of Muslim clerics of all hues and sects such as Sunni, Shia, Hanfi, Salfi, Ahl-e-Hadees, etc. at Lucknow gave a clarion call to make India free of riots, terrorism, violence and hatred and usher in an era of peace, brotherhood and progress.

These two events gave the MRM a new name and fame and credibility amongst the Muslims not only in India but internationally also. These two programs also projected some new faces amongst the Indian Muslims to the forefront who were neither associated with political or religious and social organisation. They were intellectuals from every section of the Muslim society.

The presence of a senior RSS leader in these two events and the speech that he delivered was the real challenging aspect given the misinformation injected into the Muslim psyche by the so-called secular and progressive political, social, and religious leaders of the Muslim and Hindu communities. But to the surprise of all, Indresh Kumar’s speech on both the occasions was full of important message of peace, brotherhood and humanism and nationalism and was appreciated by all in the right earnest.

These programs gave new boost to the image of MRM besides projecting it as a new platform for the Muslims at national and international level. The MRM is trying to project the Indian Muslim as the new face of the Muslim world. And this is done sans appeasement, allurements or declaring any sops for the Muslims as has been the routine practice adopted by political parties.

The MRM has also organised Rakshabandhan programs in Jaipur, Delhi, Pune, Lucknow, Varanasi, Bhopal and at other places which were attended by thousands of Muslim women, men, Hindu men and women alike. They tied the sacred ‘Rakhi’ to each other in presence of Indresh Kumar.

And now the MRM planned this Muslim Gau Palak Sammelan.

For the past one month the MRM has been meticulously planning to make this event a grand success. MRM office-bearers were touring various areas and convincing the Muslims to attend this conference. In Hyderabad around 160 Maulanas and Ulemas issued fatwa against cow slaughter. Rayees Khan, MLA, addressed a meeting of 90 Sarpanchas and 1200 workers and explained to them the importance of cow rearing and farming. Similar meetings were held in Panipat, Sonipat, Ambala, Panchkula, Chandigarh, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, UP, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh. Over 15000 people attended this first ever Muslim Gau Palak conference in Firozpur Zirka on Sunday.

The venue for the conference was chosen with a special purpose. Mewat is that region in Haryana bordering Rajasthan and UP where mostly Mew Muslims dominate. They are engaged in agriculture. This is one of the most backward regions of the country with very low percentage of literacy. The region is also known for cow slaughter and cow rearing. Some village panchayats have adopted resolution completely banning cow slaughter and sale of beef and even imposed fines on those found guilty of killing cow and selling beef.

It has been the most common perception that Muslims are engaged in cow slaughter and selling beef which is not very correct. There are many Muslims including some of the MRM activists who have sacrificed their lives for protection of cows. So, this Muslim Gau Palak Sammelan was aimed at clearing this general perception about cow slaughter vis-a-vis Muslims’ involvement.

The holy Quran and Hadees never permitted cow slaughter or sacrifice of cow as religious ritual. Had this been so, there would have been instances of cow sacrifice at the Holy Kaaba in Mecca. But there is none in the 1400 year history of Islam. Most misinformation regarding cow slaughter as having Islam’s sanction are resulted out of the incorrect interpretation of the Quranic verses and Hadees by the Muftis and Moulvis and clergies. So, we have decided to change this image of Indian Muslims who are being blamed for cow slaughter, said, MRM cow cell patron Haji Tayyab Qureshi and national convener Mohd. Faiz Khan.

A book, गाय और इस्लाम was released by Indresh Kumar at a function prior to this conference that would clear the doubts and misconceptions surrounding cow slaughter and Islam. The book is compiled by Mohd Faiz Khan, Advocate Shiraz Qureshi and Abhijit Singh in consultation with Islamic scholars and religous personalities. It may be mentioned that the MRM had earlier published a book “Yoga aur Islam” in the wake of International Day of Yoga on June 21, 2015.

By Virag Pachpore

Images were supplied by the author

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